We wanted to celebrate the timeless alcohol tradition of the region by blending a Japanese style whisky that harmonizes Japanese nature and artisanship.
Kamiki Japanese Cedar Cask Finished Whisky
BOTTLE DETAILS- DISTILLER: Undisclosed. Produced by Yoshino Spirits.
- MASH BILL: Undisclosed. Kamiki Sakura is a blended whisky reportedly made with malt whiskies distilled along Japan's coast. The grain whisky used is imported but the countries of origin are not disclosed.
- MATURATION: First matured in oak casks and then finished in Yoshino Sugi (Japanese cedar) casks.
- AGE: NAS - No age statement
- YEAR: 2020
- PROOF: 96 Proof (48% ABV)
- MSRP: $89.99
NOSE: Sandalwood | Early Spring Blossoms | A Touch of Good Shaving Cream
TASTE: Wood | Pepper | Honey | A drop of water brings out some vegetal flavors | Light Allspice
FINISH: This whisky hits the palate right up front, adds some spice in the back of the mouth, but then has almost no finish, other than a lingering sandalwood taste. Think of when you have a really luxuriously creamy sandalwood shaving cream on, and you’ve finished shaving, then can just smell the lingering sandalwood.
SHARE WITH: Like its cousin, Umiki whisky, this is a different take on a typical malted barley whisky. While Umiki is finished in pine, this one is finished in Yoshini Sugi (Japanese cedar) barrels, inspired by the breeze coming off Mount Miwa, a holy mountain guarded by Ōmiwa Shrine. It’s less ‘Scotch’ like than a lot of Japanese whiskies I’ve had, probably due to the cedar barrel finish. Scotch drinkers that enjoy different perspectives on whisky making will enjoy this
WORTH THE PRICE: The uniqueness of the cedar finish and the quality of the first taste more than make up for the lack of finish in this whisky; I’d say it’s worth the price, being a blended malt whisky, containing only malt whiskies and no neutral grain whiskies.
BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bar. It’s worth a try, but I personally would spend the money on a great bourbon or Islay Scotch. If you can find it at a bar, though, definitely try it. I’m glad it’s in my bar inventory for something different to try now and then.
OVERALL: This whisky has an interesting story, going through a secondary aging in Japanese cedar, honoring the Omiwa Shrine at the food of Mount Miwa. The name means God Breath, inspired by the breezes coming from the Mountain of the God. You can tell there’s some story behind the whisky. And that first taste tells you there’s quality whisky in the bottle. I wish it had a better finish, which would have moved my final verdict from Bar to Bottle, but it’s still an interesting enough whisky to try at least once.
Curt has a love for things that taste good, starting in barbecue competitions, then moving to teaching cooking classes, writing a food blog and writing for national grilling-related companies, and, currently, as a regular on a local news show in SW Ohio doing food segments (for which he’s become known for his use of bourbon in food). In fact, when interviewed about his top five cooking ingredients, bourbon was included in that list.
Curt’s love of whisky goes back years, but, more recently, his wife encouraged him to have more than one partially filled bottle of Lagavulin by buying an Ardbeg for him for Christmas, then letting him add more and more to his collection. Now amassing a pretty nice little group of Scotch, bourbon, and ryes (and a few other whiskeys here and there), Curt enjoys his whiskey mostly with nothing but a couple drops of water (but is fine with a whiskey cocktail now and then, too). Curt’s feeling is that you don’t have to like the same whisky he likes, but he hopes you enjoy yours as much as he’s enjoying whichever is currently in his glass.
Read Curt's full profile.
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